Prostate cancer and melanoma antigens

ABSTRACT

Methods for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further prostate cancer or melanoma examination are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for determining whether an immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response in a prostate cancer or melanoma patient. Further disclosed are kits that can be used to practice the above methods. Methods for identifying candidate compounds for further testing as preventive or therapeutic agents for melanoma are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/033,229, filed Feb. 19, 2008, and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/890,590, filed Feb. 19, 2007. These documents are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with United States government support awarded by the following agency: NIH K23 RR16489. The United States has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND

Immune responses can be elicited to tumor-expressed antigens. For example, several groups have reported the detection of antibody responses to prostate tumor-associated antigens compared with control groups (Wang X, et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 353:1224-1235 (2005); McNeel D, et al., J. Urol. 164:1825-1829 (2000); Minelli A, et al., Anticancer Res. 25:4399-4402 (2005); Bradford T, et al., Urol Oncol. 24:237-242 (2006); and Shi F, et al., Prostate 63:252-258 (2005)). Cancer-testis antigens (CTA) are of particular interest as potential tumor antigens given that their expression is typically restricted to germ cells among normal tissues, but aberrantly expressed in tumor cells (Scanlan M, et al., Cancer Immun. 4:1 (2004)). The absence of MHC class I molecule expression on germ cells makes CTA essentially tumor-specific antigens in terms of potential CD8⁺ T-cell target antigens (Kowalik I, et al., Andrologia. 21:237-243 (1989)). Many of these CTA were discovered using antibody screening methods including the serological evaluation of recombinant cDNA expression libraries (SEREX) approach (Sahin U, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:11810-11813 (1005); Hoeppner L, et al., Cancer Immun. 6:1-7 (2006); and Tureci O, et al., Mol. Med. Today 3:342-349 (1997)).

Several CTA, including members of the MAGE and GAGE families, have been identified as antigens recognized by tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cells (CTL) (Van der Bruggen P, et al., Science 254:1643-1647 (1991); and Van den Eynde B, et al., J. Exp. Med. 182:689-698 (1995)). Detectable immune responses to these antigens are believed to be a result of their ectopic expression in MHC class I-expressing malignant cells. Several CTA have been shown to be recognized by both antibodies and CTL, thus providing validation for the original approach of using antibody screening to identify potential tumor-specific T cell antigens (Jäger E, et al., J. Exp. Med. 187:265-270 (1998); and Monji M, et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 10:6047-6057 (2004)). Some CTA are expressed in several malignancies of different tissue origins (Scanlan et al., supra; and Mashino K, et al., Br. J. Cancer. 85:713-720 (2001)).

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides methods for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further prostate cancer or melanoma examination based on certain prostate cancer and melanoma antigens identified by the inventors. Methods of identifying immune responses elicited by an immune therapy directed at prostate cancer or melanoma are also provided. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to practice the above methods. Methods for identifying candidate compounds for further testing as preventive or therapeutic agents for melanoma are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an immunoblot (probed with anti-SSX-2/4 specific antibody) that confirmed protein expression. Phage encoding SSX-2, SSX-1, SSX-4 and a negative control (empty phage construct) were spotted directly onto a bacterial lawn. Proteins were transferred to an isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-infused nitrocellulose membrane, and mouse anti-SSX-2 mAb (clone E3AS, with known reactivity to SSX-2 and SSX-4, but not SSX-1) was used to probe the membrane.

FIG. 2 shows that high throughput immunoblot (HTI) detected CTA-specific IgG in patient sera. A) Purified glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-SSX-2 and GST were evaluated by Western blot with patient sera (patients 24, 19 or 35) or with monoclonal antibodies (positive) specific for SSX-2 or GST. B) HTI conducted with CTA phage array using sera from patients 24, 19 or 35. Positive refers to phage encoding IgG, and negative refers to empty phage control.

FIG. 3 shows that patients with melanoma have IgG specific for several CTA. Shown is the percentage of male patients with melanoma (n=44), or male control blood donors without cancer (n=50), with IgG specific for each of the 29 CTA tested.

FIG. 4 shows that MAD-CT-2, NY-ESO-1 and SSX-2 are expressed in melanoma cell lines. RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) with primers specific for NY-ESO-1, SSX-2, MAD-CT-2 or β-actin was conducted using mRNA from cell lines (e.g., MEL-5 and MEL-21), cDNA encoding each of the proteins (positive control), or no DNA template (negative control).

FIG. 5 shows that HTI identified IgG responses to 4 (i.e., SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1 and NFX2) of 29 known CTA using sera from prostate cancer patients.

FIG. 6 shows the expression of SSX-2 in 5 normal prostate epithelial cell lines (lanes 1-5: 1. PrEC1; 2. PrEC2; 3. PrEC3; 4. PrEC4; and 5. PZ-HPV7) and 6 prostate cancer cell lines (lanes 6-11: 6. SWPC1; 7. SWPC2; 8. SWNPC2; 9. LAPC4; 10. MDAPCa2b; and 11. MDAPCa2a) by RT-PCR. POS represents a cDNA positive control; whereas M represents molecular weight markers.

FIG. 7 shows the expression of SSX-2 in prostate cancer metastatic tissues. Prostate cancer metastatic tissue cDNA samples of 7 different prostate cancer patients (lanes 1-7) were analyzed for SSX-2 expression using PCR. Patients 1 and 2 showed relatively strong expression and patients 6 and 7 showed weak expression. POS and NEG are positive and negative controls, respectively. M represents molecular weight markers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is based on the inventors' identification of a number of antigens to which patients with prostate cancer or melanoma have developed antibody immune responses. The prostate cancer antigens identified include SSX-2, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-42, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1, actinin and NFX2; whereas the melanoma antigens identified include MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-1 and PAGE-1. The inventors have also found that prostate cancer cells as well as metastatic tissues express several of the above newly identified prostate cancer antigens (e.g., SSX-2). In addition, melanoma cells express several of the newly identified melanoma antigens (e.g., MAD-CT-2). The identification provides new tools for assisting the diagnosis and the detection of recurrence of prostate cancer and melanoma, especially for men. The identification also provides new tools for determining whether an immune therapy elicited a tumor-specific immune response.

The cancer antigens disclosed herein are known proteins, and their DNA and amino acid sequences are available in the art (see, e.g., Table 1). While it is envisioned that a prostate cancer or melanoma antigen identified by the inventors can be used by itself for the screening of prostate cancer and melanoma, respectively, a panel of more than one antigen is preferred. Other prostate cancer and melanoma antigens known in the art can be included in the panel. For example, a prostate cancer antigen panel may include SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, NFX2, MAD-Pro-22, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-34, MAD-Pro-42, MAD-CaP-1, MAD-CaP-5, MAD-CaP-15, MAD-CaP-20, MAD-CT-1, MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-3, MAD-CT-5, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1, androgen receptor (AR; or ligand-binding domain of AR) and actinin. A smaller prostate cancer antigen panel may include SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, NFX2, MAD-Pro-22, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-34, MAD-Pro-42, MAD-CaP-1, MAD-CaP-5, MAD-CaP-15, MAD-CaP-20, MAD-CT-1, MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-3, MAD-CT-5, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1 and AR (or ligand-binding domain of AR). Another smaller prostate cancer antigen panel may include SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, NFX2, MAD-Pro-22, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-34, MAD-Pro-42, MAD-CaP-1, MAD-CaP-5, MAD-CaP-15, MAD-CaP-20, MAD-CT-1, MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-3, MAD-CT-5, transgelin, ACAA1 and AR (or ligand-binding domain of AR). Another smaller prostate cancer antigen panel may include MAD-Pro-34, MAD-Pro-42 and MAD-CT-2. Another smaller prostate cancer antigen panel may include SSX-2, MAD-Pro-30, AR (or ligand-binding domain of AR) and MAD-Pro-22 (PSA). Another smaller prostate cancer antigen panel may include MAD-Pro-30, AR (or ligand-binding domain of AR) and PSA.

An example of a melanoma antigen panel includes MAD-CT-2, SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, MAD-CT-1 and PAGE-1. A smaller melanoma antigen panel may include MAD-CT-2, SSX-2, NY-ESO-1 and PAGE-1. Another smaller melanoma antigen panel may include MAD-CT-2, SSX-2 and NY-ESO-1.

TABLE 1 Prostate and Melanoma cancer antigens. Designation Herein Common Name GenBank ID MAD-Pro-22 Prostate specific antigen (PSA) NM_145864 MAD-Pro-30 Recombination signal binding protein NM_015874 (RBPJK) MAD-Pro-34 Nucleolar autoantigen; SC65; No55 NM 006455.1 MAD-Pro-42 NY-CO-7/STUB1 NM_005861 MAD-CaP-1 HMG17 NM_005517 MAD-CaP-5 KIAA1404 gene product/ZNFX1 NM_021035 MAD-CaP-15 CLL-associated antigen KW-12/ NM_000975 RPL11 MAD-CaP-20 Human bullous pemphigoid antigen NM_015548 MAD-CT-1 Protamine 2 NM_002762 MAD-CT-2 Hypothetical protein of unknown AK097414 function FLJ40095/FLJ36144 MAD-CT-3 Sorting nexin 13 (SNX13) NM_015132 MAD-CT-5 Sjogren's syndrome antigen B NM_003142 (autoantigen La) SSX-2 Synovial sarcoma, X breakpoint 2 Z49105 Transgelin Transgelin BC024296 ZCWCC3 Zinc-finger protein CW type with NM_015358 coiled domain 3 ACAA1 Acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase 1 NM_001607 AR or AR-LBD Androgen receptor (AR), or ligand- M20132 binding domain of AR Actinin Actinin alpha 1, 2, 4 D89980 NY-ESO-1 NY-ESO-1/CTAG1B NM_001327 PAGE-1 PAGE1 AF058989 NFX2 NFX2 AF332009 LAGE-1 LAGE-1 AJ223093

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further prostate cancer examination. The method includes the step of determining whether the human subject has developed an immune reaction to a prostate cancer antigen selected from SSX-2, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-42, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1, actinin and NFX2, wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the human subject is a candidate for further prostate cancer examination. In one embodiment, a prostate cancer antigen panel as disclosed herein is used in the method and whether the human subject has developed an immune reaction to the antigens in the panel is determined. The presence of an immune reaction to any member of the panel indicates that the human subject is a candidate for further prostate cancer examination. For a subject who has already been indicated to have prostate cancer by other tests, the method here can be used to confirm the diagnosis or identify recurrence after treatment.

The method disclosed above may optionally include the step of subjecting a human subject to further prostate cancer examination if the human subject tests positive for at least one of the prostate cancer antigens. Any known test for assisting the diagnosis of prostate cancer can be used. Examples include serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and standard pathological evaluation of prostate tissue specimen obtained from a biopsy. For subjects with a history of treated prostate cancer, radiographic scans can be conducted for detecting recurrent prostate cancer. In one embodiment, prostate or a prostate tissue specimen from the subject is examined for the presence of prostate cancer.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether an immune therapy elicited a tumor-specific immune response in a prostate cancer patient. In one embodiment, the immune therapy is an antigen-specific immune therapy. The new prostate cancer antigens identified herein can serve as targets for antigen-specific immune therapies and whether such an antigen-specific immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response can be determined by testing whether a patient has developed an immune reaction to the antigen. An antigen-specific immune therapy may ultimately elicit responses to other antigens (i.e., antigens other than the one the therapy is designed to specifically target). For example, a successful antigen-specific immune therapy causes immune-mediated tumor destruction, leading to recognition of other antigens. Therefore, response to another antigen (other than the one the therapy is designed to specifically target) in an antigen-specific immune therapy indicates indirectly that the therapy elicited an immune response to the targeted antigen and is therefore effective. To practice the method, the prostate cancer antigens disclosed herein can be used individually, in combination with each other, or in combination with other known prostate cancer antigens to determine whether an antigen-specific immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response. In this regard, whether the patient has developed an immune reaction to a prostate cancer antigen selected from SSX-2, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-42, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1, actinin and NFX2 can be analyzed, wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the therapy elicited a tumor-specific immune response. Any panel of prostate cancer antigens disclosed herein can be used for this purpose, wherein the presence of an immune reaction to at least one member of the panel indicates that the therapy elicited an immune response. Preferably, the patient is also tested for immune responses to the antigen or antigens before therapy so that it can be confirmed that an immune response detected after the start of the therapy is elicited by the therapy. The method may optionally include the step of monitoring the status of the prostate cancer in the patient by, e.g., the prostate cancer examination techniques described above.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the immune therapy is a non-antigen-specific immune therapy. As used herein, “non-antigen-specific immune therapy” means an immune therapy that does not specifically target a particular antigen or an immune therapy that does not identify the antigen targets. Examples of non-antigen-specific therapies include whole-cell-based therapies such as the GVAX vaccines (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-secreting cancer cell immunotherapy) or whole-cell vaccines developed by Onyvax Ltd. (London, England) (Hege K, et al., Int. Rev. Immunol. 25:321-352 (2006); Nemunaitis J, et al., Cancer Gene Ther. 13:555-562 (2006); and Michael A, et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 11:4469-4478 (2005)), cytokine-based therapies such as interleukin-2 or interferon-gamma (King D, et al. J. Clin. Oncol. 22:4463-4473 (2004)) or other immunomodulatory therapies including anti-CTLA-4 therapies used either alone or in combination with another therapy (Thompson R, et al., Urol. Oncol. 24:442-427 (2006); Korman A, et al., Adv. Immunol. 90:297-339 (2006); and Maker A, et al., Ann. Surg. Oncol. 12:1005-1016 (2005)). Traditionally, it has been difficult to assess whether a non-antigen-specific immune therapy generated a tumor-specific immune response because the therapy does not specifically target a particular antigen or the identities of the antigen targets are unknown. The prostate cancer antigens disclosed herein can be used individually, in combination with each other, or in combination with other known prostate cancer antigens to determine whether a non-antigen-specific immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response. In this regard, whether the patient has developed an immune reaction to a prostate cancer antigen selected from SSX-2, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-42, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1, actinin and NFX2 can be analyzed, wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the therapy elicited a tumor-specific immune response. Any panel of prostate cancer antigens disclosed here can be used for this purpose, wherein the presence of an immune reaction to at least one member of the panel indicates that the therapy elicited an immune response. Preferably, the patient is also tested for immune responses to the antigen or antigens before therapy to confirm that an immune response detected after the start of the therapy is elicited by the therapy. The method may optionally include the step of monitoring the status of the prostate cancer in the patient by, e.g., the prostate cancer examination techniques described above.

In one embodiment, the method is used in clinical trials of antigen-specific or non-antigen-specific immune therapies for determining whether the therapies elicited a tumor-specific immune response.

One of ordinary skill in the art is more than capable of determining whether a human subject developed an immune reaction to one of the prostate cancer antigens. One way is to determine whether the human subject has produced antibodies to the antigens. For example, one can take a blood sample or blood-derived sample (e.g., a serum sample, a plasma sample or any preparation thereof that preserves the activity of immunoglobulins) from the human subject and test whether it contains antibodies to the antigens. Examples of such tests include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, protein microarray or high-throughput immunoblot analysis (Sreekumar A, et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 96:834-843 (2004)), phage array-type analysis (Wang et al., supra; and Dubovsky J, et al., J. Immunother. 30:675-683 (2007)), and other methods known in the art. Another way is to determine whether the human subject has developed antigen-specific T cells, which is also well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, antigen stimulation can be used to detect antigen-specific T cells for their ability to proliferate, secrete various cytokines or exhibit cytolytic function (see e.g., Olson B & McNeel D, Prostate 67:1729-1739 (2007)). Other examples include enzyme-linked immunsorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays, fluorescence cell sorting of cytokine-producing cells, and peptide MHC/HLA tetramer assays (see e.g., Hobeika A, et al., J. Immunother. 28:63-72 (2005)). Preferably, circulating antigen-specific T cells are detected as they are the most accessible ones. For example, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can be analyzed for this purpose.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further melanoma examination. The method includes the step of determining whether the human subject has developed an immune reaction to a melanoma antigen selected from MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-1 and PAGE-1, wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the human subject is a candidate for further melanoma examination. MAD-CT-2 is a preferred melanoma antigen. In one embodiment, a melanoma antigen panel disclosed herein is used in the method and whether the human subject has developed an immune reaction to the antigens in the panel is determined. The presence of an immune reaction to any member of the panel indicates that the human subject is a candidate for further melanoma examination. For a subject already known to have melanoma by other tests, the method can be used to confirm the diagnosis or suggest recurrent disease.

The method disclosed above may optionally include the step of subjecting a human subject to further melanoma examination if the human subject is tested positive for at least one of the melanoma antigens. Any known test for assisting the diagnosing of melanoma can be used. For example, a skin specimen from the subject can be examined for the presence of melanoma (e.g., by pathological analysis). Radiographic imaging studies may be employed to evaluate for the presence of metastatic lesions.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether an immune therapy elicited a tumor-specific immune response in a melanoma patient. The method is the same as that described above for prostate cancer except that it is practiced with melanoma patients and the melanoma antigens identified by the inventors. In one embodiment, the immune therapy is an antigen-specific immune therapy. In another embodiment, the immune therapy is a non-antigen-specific immune therapy. The melanoma antigens disclosed here can be used individually, in combination with each other, or in combination with other known melanoma antigens to determine whether an immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response. In this regard, whether the patient has developed an immune reaction to a melanoma antigen selected from MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-1 and PAGE-1 can be analyzed, wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response. Any panel of melanoma antigens disclosed herein can be used for this purpose, wherein the presence of an immune reaction to at least one member of the panel indicates that the therapy has elicited an immune response. Preferably, the patient is also tested for immune responses to the antigen or antigens before therapy so that it can be confirmed that an immune response detected after the start of the therapy is elicited by the therapy. The method may optionally include the step of monitoring the status of melanoma in the patient by, e.g., the melanoma examination techniques described above. In one application, the method is used in clinical trials of antigen-specific or non-antigen-specific immune therapies for determining whether the therapies have elicited a tumor-specific immune response.

Similar to what has been discussed above with respect to the prostate cancer antigens, it is well within the capability of one of ordinary skill in the art to determine whether a human subject has developed an immune reaction to one of the melanoma antigens, and examples of applicable techniques have been described above in connection with the prostate cancer antigens.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to yet another method for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further melanoma examination. The method includes the step of determining whether the cells in a region of the subject's skin suspected of being malignant express MAD-CT-2, wherein the expression of MAD-CT-2 indicates that the subject is a candidate for further melanoma examination. The expression of MAD-CT-2 can be determined at either the mRNA level or the protein level and one of ordinary skill in the art is familiar with the techniques for such determination. For example, antibodies directed to an epitope on an antigen can be used to detect the antigen at the protein level, and it is well within the capability of one of ordinary skill in the art to generate such antibodies if not already available. The presence of mRNA for an antigen can be measured using methods for hybridizing nucleic acids, including, without limitation, RNA, DNA and cDNA. Such methods are generally known to those skilled in the art (e.g., RT-PCR amplification, Northern blot and Southern blot).

Optionally, the method further includes the step of subjecting a human subject who is positive for the expression of MAD-CT-2 to further melanoma examination. For a subject already identified as having melanoma by other tests, the method provided herein can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

In sixth aspect, the present invention relates a method for identifying candidate compounds for further testing as preventive or therapeutic agents for melanoma. As MAD-CT-2 is expressed in melanoma cells, it can serve as a marker for melanoma drug screening because, presumably, an anti-melanoma agent can bring down the MAD-CT-2 mRNA and protein level in melanoma cells that express this marker. Accordingly, a compound that demonstrates such an activity may be a good candidate for further testing for anti-tumor efficacy. In this regard, animal or human cells that express MAD-CT-2 can be exposed to a test agent, and the effect of the test agent on MAD-CT-2 expression at the mRNA or protein level relative to that of corresponding untreated control cells can be measured, wherein a lower expression than that of the control cells indicates that the agent is a candidate for further testing as preventive or therapeutic agents for melanoma. The animal or human cells that express MAD-CT-2 can contain a DNA sequence encoding MAD-CT-2 under the control of an endogenous promoter such as a native promoter or another promoter following translocation to a new site. Preferably, human or animal melanoma cells that express MAD-CT-2 are used. In one embodiment, such human or animal melanoma cells are those of a cell line.

In seventh aspect, the invention relates to kits suitable for use in the methods disclosed herein. For the method of identifying a human subject as a candidate for further prostate cancer examination in connection with analyzing whether the subject has developed an immune response to prostate cancer antigens, the kit includes the proteins or suitable fragments thereof of a prostate cancer antigen panel disclosed herein or expression vectors/systems for expressing the proteins or suitable fragments (e.g., a phage system as described in Example 1 below, an expression vector containing a DNA sequence encoding an antigen protein operably linked to a promoter such as a non-native promoter, or a cell containing the expression vector). In this regard, a protein in the panel can be represented by the protein with additional amino acid sequences at one or both of the N- and C-terminal ends, as long as the additional sequences do not affect the function of the proteins in connection with the present invention (i.e., the ability to bind to the corresponding immunoglobulins). The additional amino acid sequences can, but do not have to, assist in the purification, detection, or stabilization of the proteins. Optionally, the kit also includes a positive control, a negative control or both. For example, a positive control may be a composition containing an antibody to one or more of the antigens in the panel (e.g., a blood/serum/plasma preparation from a patient or group of patients known to interact with one or more of the antigens). A negative control for the proteins in the panel and the expression vectors/systems for expressing the proteins may be a non-tumor antigen protein such as a housekeeping protein and an expression vector/system for expressing the non-tumor antigen. A negative control for the patient's serum or blood-derived sample may be a serum or blood-derived sample from a normal individual that does not interact with any of the proteins in the panel.

For the method of identifying a human subject as a candidate for further melanoma examination in connection with analyzing whether the subject developed an immune response to melanoma antigens, the kit includes the proteins or suitable fragments thereof of a melanoma antigen panel disclosed herein or expression vectors/systems for expressing the proteins or suitable fragments (e.g., a phage system as described in Example 1 below, an expression vector containing a DNA sequence encoding an antigen protein operably linked to a promoter such as a non-native promoter, or a cell containing the expression vector). In this regard, a protein in the panel can be represented by the protein with additional amino acid sequences at one or both of the N- and C-terminal ends, as long as the additional sequences do not affect the function of the proteins in connection with the present invention (i.e., the ability to bind to the corresponding immunoglobulins). The additional amino acid sequences can, but do not have to, assist in the purification, detection or stabilization of the proteins. Optionally, the kit also includes a positive control, a negative control or both. For example, a positive control may be a composition containing an antibody to one or more of the antigens in the panel (e.g., a blood/serum/plasma preparation from a patient known to interact with one or more of the antigens). A negative control for the proteins in the panel and the expression vectors/systems for expressing the proteins may be a non-tumor antigen protein, such as a housekeeping protein and an expression vector/system for expressing the non-tumor antigen. A negative control for the patient's serum or blood-derived sample may be a serum or blood-derived sample from a normal individual that does not interact with any of the proteins in the panel.

For the method of identifying a human subject as a candidate for further melanoma examination in connection with analyzing the expression of MAD-CT-2, the kit includes an antibody to MAD-CT-2 or an oligonucleotide set for amplifying and detecting MAD-CT-2 mRNA or cDNA. For example, the oligonucleotide set can contain a pair of PCR primers, preferably RT-PCR primers, which can be used for both amplifying and detecting the mRNA or cDNA. The set may also contain a separate oligonucleotide for detecting the amplified sequence. Optionally, the kit also includes a positive control, a negative control or both. For example, a positive control may be a composition that contains MAD-CT-2 or the corresponding mRNA or cDNA (e.g., melanoma cells or an extract thereof of either a cell line or a patient that are known to express MAD-CT-2). A negative control for the cells from a subject being tested may be cells that do not express MAD-CT-2 (e.g., skin cells or other types of cells from a normal individual). A negative control for the antibody or oligonucleotide set may be an antibody that does not interact with MAD-CT-2 or a set of oligonucleotides that does not amplify and detect the corresponding mRNA/cDNA (e.g., an antibody to a non-tumor antigen protein, such as a housekeeping protein or a set of oligonucleotides that amplifies and detects the mRNA/cDNA of the non-tumor antigen protein).

Any of the kits described above can optionally contain an instruction manual directing use of the kit according to the method of the present invention.

The invention will be more fully understood upon consideration of the following non-limiting examples.

Examples Example 1 Antibody Responses to Cancer-Testis Antigens in Melanoma Patients

In this example, we show the construction of a panel of 29 CTA in lambda (λ) phage, and implementation of a novel high throughput immunoscreening method using a panel of sera from patients with melanoma (n=44) and volunteer blood donors (n=50). We show that antibody responses occurred in 39% of patients with melanoma to at least one CTA antigen in a defined panel of 5 compared with 4% of controls (p<0.001). Moreover, antibody responses to one antigen, MAD-CT-2, occurred in 27% of patients compared with 0/50 controls (p<0.0001). We also show that MAD-CT-2 is expressed in melanoma cell lines.

Materials and Methods.

Subject Population: Sera were obtained from 44 male patients with metastatic melanoma, mean age 50 years (range 25-78 years). All patients had been treated with primary resection. 19/44 (43%) were treated with prior immunotherapy, and 9/44 (20%) were treated with prior chemotherapy. All subjects gave written institutional review board (IRB)-approved informed consent for their blood products to be used for immunological research. Blood was collected at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (Madison, Wis.), and sera were stored in aliquots at −80° C. until used. Control sera were obtained from volunteer male blood donors, mean age 34 years (range 18-57 years), who also gave IRB-approved written informed consent.

Phage Cloning: Plasmid DNA encoding full-length cDNAs for 29 CTA were either purchased as IMAGE clones (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC); Manassas, Va.), or were obtained from cDNA expression libraries from previous studies (Hoeppner et al., supra; and Stone B, et al., Int. J. Cancer 104:73-84 (2003)). Primers, specific for each CTA, were designed with the purpose of appending a single 5′ EcoRI and a single 3′ XhoI site for subcloning. In cases where the CTA had an internal EcoRI or XhoI site, an alternate 5′ MfeI site or 3′ Sail site was used. Table 2 shows the sequence of the primers and IMAGE clone identification for each CTA construct. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using template cDNAs, gene specific primers, Taq polymerase (Promega; Madison, Wis.), and 30 amplification cycles optimized with respect to temperature for each primer pair. PCR products were gel purified (Qiaquick Gel Extraction Kit; Qiagen; Valencia, Calif.), digested with the appropriate restriction enzymes, and ligated into λ-phage arms (Lambda ZAP express protocol; Stratagene; La Jolla, Calif.). Phage were amplified by standard methods and sequenced to confirm their identity and to detect any mutations introduced by PCR (Table 2).

TABLE 2 CTA phage construction. Shown are the names and GenBank identifiers for each CTA chosen for analysis. In addition, the 5′ and 3′ primers used for the gene-specific cDNA PCR amplifi- cation and subcloning are shown, and the IMAGE clone identi- fiers from which the genes were cloned. Variations from the published amino acid sequences identified after final clone sequencing are shown. Image Name GenBank ID Clone ID 5′ Primer MAGE-A1¹ NM_004988 GGAATTCATGTCTCTTGAGCAGAGGAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 1) SSX2² BC007343 GGTGCTCAAATACCAGAGAAG * (SEQ ID NO: 3) NY-ESO-1³ AJ003149 GGAATTCCATGCAGGCCGAAGGCCGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 5) GAG-7⁴ NM_021123 GGAATTCATGAGTTGGCGAGGAAGATCGACC (SEQ ID NO: 7) SSX4⁵ U90841 GGAATTCATGAACGGAGACGACGCCTTG (SEQ ID NO: 9) NXF2⁶ BC015020 3921074 CCAATTGATGTGCTCTACTCTAAAGAAGTGTG (SEQ ID NO: 11) TPX1⁷ BC022011 4826427 GGAATTCAATGGCTTTACTACCGGTGTTGTTTC (SEQ ID NO: 13) XAGE-1⁸ BC009538 3893227 GGAATTCATGGAGAGCCCCAAAAAGAAGAACC (SEQ ID NO: 15) LAGE-1⁹ BC002833 3638129 GGAATTCATGCAGGCCGAAGGCCGGGGCAC (SEQ ID NO: 17) PAGE-1⁴ BC010897 4043535 GGAATTCGATGAGTGCACGAGTGAGATCAAG (SEQ ID NO: 19) MAGE-E1¹⁰ BC081566 6292139 CCAATTGCATGGCTGAGGGAAGCTTCAGCGTG (SEQ ID NO: 21) SPANXC¹¹ BC054023 6648369 CCAATTGATGGACAAACAATCCAGTGCCGGCGG (SEQ ID NO23) ADAM2¹² BC064547 5744846 GGAATTCATGTGGCGCGTCTTGTTTCTGCTC (SEQ ID NO: 25) TSP50¹³ BC037775 5272458 GGAATTCATGGGTCGCTGGTGCCAGACCGTC (SEQ ID NO: 27) NY-SAR-35¹⁴ BC034320 4836772 GGAATTCATGTCTTCACATAGGAGGAAAGCGAAG (SEQ ID NO: 29) FATE1¹⁵ BC022064 4826440 GGAATTCATGGCAGGAGGCCCTCCCAACACC (SEQ ID NO: 31) PAGE-5¹² BC009230 3955765 GGATTCGTGATGCAGGCGCCATGGGCC (SEQ ID NO: 33) LIP1¹² BC023635 4841470 GGAATTCATGTCTCTACGCTGCGGGGATGCAG (SEQ ID NO: 35) SPA17¹⁶ BC032457 5171849 CCAATTGATGTCGATTCCATTCTCCAACACC (SEQ ID NO: 37) MAGE-A8¹ BE387798 GGAATTCATGCCTCTTGAGCAGAGGAGTCAG (SEQ ID NO: 39) MAGE-B1¹⁷ BE897525 GGAATTCATGCCTCGGGGTCAGAAGAG (SEQ ID NO: 41) MAGE-B2¹⁷ BC026071 GGAATTCATGCCTCGTGGTCAGAAGAGTAAG (SEQ ID NO: 43) MAGE-A4¹ BC017723 GGAATTCATGTCTTCTGAGCAGAAGAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 45) SSX1² BC001003 3445470 GGAATTCATGAACGGAGACAACACCTTTG (SEQ ID NO: 47) GAGE-2¹⁸ BC069397 7262151 GGAATTCATGAGTTGGCGAGGAAGATCGACC (SEQ ID NO: 49) GAGE-4¹⁸ BC069470 GGAATTCATGATTGGGCCTATGCGGCCCGAG (SEQ ID NO: 51) MAGE-A3¹ BC016803 * MAD-CT-1¹⁹ NM_002762 GAGGAGCCTGAGCGAACG * (SEQ ID NO: 53) MAD-CT-2¹⁹ AK097414 GAGGATATGAGATCAGAAAGAGAAG * (SEQ ID NO: 55) Sequence Name 3′ Primer variation: MAGE-A1¹ CCGCTCGAGCTCAGACTCCCTCTTCCTCCTC (SEQ ID NO: 2) SSX2² CTTTGGGTCCAGATCTCTCGTG * (SEQ ID NO: 4) NY-ESO-1³ CCGCTCGAGCTTAGCGCCTCTGCCCTGAGGG G to V mutation (SEQ ID NO: 6) at a.a.#41 GAG-7⁴ CCGCTCGAGTTACACTGTGAGCTTTTCACC (SEQ ID NO: 8) SSX4⁵ CCGCTCGAGCTACTCGTCATCTTCCTCAGGG (SEQ ID NO: 10) NXF2⁶ CCGCTCGAGTTAGGAGATTTGCTTGAAGGCCTCTG (SEQ ID NO: 12) TPX1⁷ CCGCTCGAGTCAGTAAATTTTGTTCTCACATAGG (SEQ ID NO: 14) XAGE-1⁸ CCGCTCGAGTTAAACTTGTTGCTCTTCACCTG (SEQ ID NO: 16) LAGE-1⁹ CCGCTCGAGCTAAATGAGAGGGGCAGAGAACATC (SEQ ID NO: 18) PAGE-1⁴ CCGCTCGAGTTATGGCTGCCCATCCCTGCTTC (SEQ ID NO: 20) MAGE-E1¹⁰ CCGCTCGAGTCAACGGTGCTGGATCCAGGAG (SEQ ID NO: 22) SPANXC¹¹ CCGCTCGAGCTACTTTGCAGGTATTTCACATTATTTC Missing last 7 (SEQ ID NO: 24) a.a.'s ADAM2¹² CGGCTCGAGACTACCCTTTAGGTTCACTCTCAC (SEQ ID NO: 26) TSP50¹³ CCGCTCGAGTCAGAGGGCAGCAAGGAGG (SEQ ID NO: 28) NY-SAR-35¹⁴ CCGCTCGAGCTACTCGTCACCATGTTCCTCAC (SEQ ID NO: 30) FATE1¹⁵ CCGCTCGAGATCACTGGTTCATCCACAGCCAC (SEQ ID NO: 32) PAGE-5¹² CCGCTCGAGCTATAGTTGCCCTTCACCTGCTTGG (SEQ ID NO: 34) LIP1¹² CCGCTCGAGTTTTAGAGGTCTTTTGTTTTTCTTTTAGCC (SEQ ID NO: 36) SPA17¹⁶ CCGCTCGAGTCACTTGTTTTCCTCTTTTTCCTC (SEQ ID NO: 38) MAGE-A8¹ CCGCTCGAGACTCACTCTTCCCCCTCTCTCAA (SEQ ID NO: 40) MAGE-B1¹⁷ ACGCGTCGACTCACATGGGGTGGGAGGACCTG (SEQ ID NO: 42) MAGE-B2¹⁷ CCGCTCGAGCTCAGACTCCGGCTTTCTCTTC (SEQ ID NO: 44) MAGE-A4¹ CCGCTCGAGCTCAGACTCCCTCTTCCTCCT (SEQ ID NO: 46) SSX1² CCGCTCGAGTTACTCGTCATCTTCCTCAGGG (SEQ ID NO: 48) GAGE-2¹⁸ CCGCTCGAGTTAACACTGTGATTGCTTTTCACCTTC (SEQ ID NO: 50) GAGE-4¹⁸ CCGCTCGAGTTAACACTGTGATTGCCCTTCACCTTC (SEQ ID NO: 52) MAGE-A3¹ * MAD-CT-1¹⁹ GGATTCTTAGTGCCTTCTGCATGTTCTCTT * (SEQ ID NO: 54) MAD-CT-2¹⁹ TCCACACTGCCAGTGTGGCTCAT * (SEQ ID NO: 56) * Phage encoding MAGE-A3 were obtained from previous unpublished studies. ¹De Plaen E et al. Immunogenetics 1994, 40: 360-369. ²Crew AJ et al. Embo J. 1995, 14: 2333-2340. ³Chen YT et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1997, 94: 1914-1918. ⁴Chen ME et al. J Biol Chem. 1998, 273: 17618-17625. ⁵Gure AO et al. Int J Cancer 1997, 72: 965-971. ⁶Loriot A et al. Int J Cancer 2003, 105: 371-376. ⁷Kasahara M et al. Immunogenetics 1989, 29: 61-63. ⁸Brinkmann U et al. Cancer Res. 1999, 59: 1445-1448. ⁹Chen YT et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998, 95: 6919-6923. ¹⁰Sasaki M et al. Cancer Res. 2001, 61: 4809-4814. ¹¹Zendman AJ et al. Cancer Res. 1999, 59: 6223-6229. ¹²Scanlan MJ et al. Int J Cancer 2002, 98: 485-492. ¹³Yuan L et al. Cancer Res. 1999, 59: 3215-3221. ¹⁴Lee SY et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003, 100: 2651-2656. ¹⁵Dong XY et al. Br J Cancer 2003, 89: 291-297. ¹⁶Lim SH et al. Blood 2001, 97: 1508-1510. ¹⁷Lurquin C et al. Genomics 1997, 46: 397-408. ¹⁸Van den Eynde B et al. J Exp Med. 1995, 182: 689-698. ¹⁹Hoeppner LH et al. Cancer Immun. 2006, 6: 1-7.

Reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR): E. coli cultures (XL-1 blue MRF strain; Stratagene) were transduced with 10⁶ pfu of individual phage and grown overnight in LB media+20 mM MgSO₄+0.2% maltose+2.5 mM isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at 37° C. Total RNA was prepared from centrifugally pelleted cultures (RNeasy Mini Columns; Qiagen). RT-PCR reactions were conducted using the Qiagen One-Step RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen) and transcript-specific primers (T7 Promoter and T3 Promoter; Invitrogen; Carlsbad, Calif.). To control for the possible amplification of contaminating genomic or phage DNA in the total RNA preparations, duplicate reactions were first heated to 100° C. for 10 minutes immediately prior to the normal RT-PCR reaction to attenuate reverse transcriptase activity. PCR amplification reactions were resolved on agarose gels and the size of the amplified transcript confirmed by comparison with DNA size markers (1 Kb ladder; Promega).

High Throughput Immunoblot: XL-1 blue MRF E. coli were grown overnight at 31° C. in LB medium supplemented with 20 mM MgSO₄ and 0.2% maltose. Cultured cells were then collected by centrifugation, resuspended in 10 mM MgSO₄, and poured in top agarose (LB broth/10 mM MgSO₄/0.2% maltose/0.7% agarose) over LB agar in Omniwell plates (Nunc). 9,000 pfu of individual phage were then spotted in a 0.9 μl volume in replicates onto multiple bacterial agar lawns using a liquid handling robot (Beckman; Biomek FX; Fullerton, Calif.). Spotted plates were allowed to sit undisturbed for 15 minutes at room temperature, and then overlaid with nitrocellulose membranes impregnated with 10 mM IPTG. Plates were incubated overnight at 37° C. The next day, filters were gently peeled from bacterial lawns and washed twice in TBST (50 mM Tris pH 7.2, 100 mM NaCl, 0.5% Tween-20) for 5 minutes and once in TBS (50 mM Tris pH 7.2, 100 mM NaCl) for an additional 5 minutes. The filters were then blocked in TBS+1% BSA for 1 hour shaking at room temperature.

Membranes were then probed with human serum preadsorbed to E. coli proteins and the empty phage construct diluted 1:100 in blocking solution at 4° C. overnight. Following this, the membranes were again washed twice in TBST and once in TBS, and human IgG was detected with anti-human IgG-AP (Sigma; St. Louis, Mo.) diluted 1:25,000 in blocking solution for 1 hour shaking at room temperature. The filters were again washed and then developed with 0.3 mg/ml nitro-blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT)+0.15 mg/ml 5-bromo-4-chloro-3′-indolyphosphate p-toluidine salt (BCIP). After development, filters were washed with deionized water, and then dried prior to evaluation. Immunoreactive plaques were recorded for each filter by visual comparison with an internal positive (phage encoding human IgG) and negative (empty phage encoding beta-galactosidase) control plaques. A plaque was defined as positive if replicate plaques were read as positive and there was accordance among at least six of nine independent observers, to reduce the possibility of subjective interpretation (Dunphy E, et al., J. Clin. Immunol. 24:492-501 (2004)). Comparison of immunoreactive spots among subject groups was made by chi-square analysis.

Western blot: Amino-terminal glutathione-S-transferase (GST) linked SSX-2 and GST (control) were purified from IPTG-induced overnight E. coli (Rosetta Gami expression strain) cultures transformed with pET41b plasmid (EMD Biosciences; San Diego, Calif.) containing full length SSX-2 cloned in frame with the ATG start codon. Purified proteins were stored at −80° C. and were thawed immediately before mixing 1:1 with 2×SDS Laemmli's loading buffer (0.04 M Tris pH 6.8, 12% glycerol, 1.25% sodium docecyl sulfate (SDS), 3% β-mercaptoethanol, 0.06% bromophenol blue) and boiling for 10 minutes at 100° C. The proteins were then resolved on 15% SDS-polyacrylamide gels and were electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were then probed, using standard immunoblot techniques, with preadsorbed patient sera diluted 1:200 in blocking solution or protein-specific antibodies. Detection antibodies included goat anti-SSX-2 polyclonal antibody (N-16; Santa Cruz Biotechnology; Santa Cruz, Calif.), and anti-GST monoclonal antibody (rabbit A5800; Invitrogen; Carlsbad, Calif.).

Results.

Cloning and validation of phage encoding CTA: We wished to develop a tool permitting simultaneous analysis of antibody responses to multiple antigens within a single serum sample. Given the ease of λ phage cloning and expression compared with standard methods of protein purification, we chose to use a phage expression array methodology, similar to what we have previously described (Dunphy E J et al. J. Clin. Immunol. 2004, 24:492-501). Consequently, cDNA encoding 25 unique CTA were amplified by PCR, ligated into λ phage arms, packaged into phage particles, and sequenced to confirm their identity. In addition, phage encoding SSX-2, MAGE-A3, MAD-CT-1 and MAD-CT-2 were available from prior studies (Hoeppner et al., supra; Crew A, et al., Embo. J. 14:2333-2340 (1995); and De Plaen E, et al., Immunogenetics 40:360-369 (1994), each of which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety). Gene transcription from each CTA phage construct was evaluated using RT-PCR reactions on total RNA purified from phage-transduced E. coli. In all cases, CTA phage produced mRNA transcripts of the correct predicted size. Similarly, immunoblot confirmed protein expression of CTA for which antibody reagents were available. For example, FIG. 1 demonstrates that a monoclonal antibody recognizing SSX2 and SSX4 could identify protein expression from phage-transduced E. coli.

Antigen-specific IgG to a panel of CTA were detected by high throughput immunoblot (HTI): Phage encoding individual CTA were directly spotted onto bacterial lawns grown in top agarose using a Biomek FX liquid handling robot. Optimization studies showed that a volume of 0.9 μl of 10⁴ pfu/μl phage produced reproducibly dense plaques. After plating and transfer to nitrocellulose membranes, the filters were probed with human sera that had been preadsorbed for antibodies to E. coli and diluted 1:100. Specifically, sera were obtained from 44 male patients with metastatic melanoma, and 50 male controls without cancer, and used to probe 94 individual membranes. Human IgG was then detected and visualized as described. Within each spotted array, phage encoding human IgG were included as a positive control, and empty phage were included as a negative control. In our hands, by using the liquid handling robot to uniformly array phage, we could easily screen at least 100 sera at the same time and accomplish the entire screening in three days.

Given the presence of internal positive and negative control phage plaques on each membrane, several methods were initially evaluated to objectively evaluate the final immunoblot membranes in an automated fashion. These methods included using fluorescent analysis of membranes following the use of fluorescent-tagged secondary antibodies, and automated densitometric analysis following colorimetric staining (not shown). Unfortunately, given variable backgrounds due to the E. coli bacterial lawns, these methods were unreliable and frequently “missed” plaques that were clearly immunoreactive, and false positive plaques were often observed. Consequently, we found that visual inspection was more accurate. To eliminate subjectivity from this evaluation, and reduce the possibility of false positive interpretation, each filter was reviewed and scored by a panel of independent readers. Plaques were scored as immunoreactive if duplicate plaques were each scored positive by the same observer, and if there was concordance among at least 6 of 9 independent observers, similar to what we have previously reported (Dunphy E, et al., J. Clin. Immunol. 24:492-501 (2004)). A subset of sera was re-evaluated in similar fashion to confirm the reproducibility of the findings, and immunoreactive plaques were similar to those observed in the initial screening (data not shown).

The presence of IgG specific for SSX-2 was confirmed by Western blot analysis: Western blot analysis was used when possible to confirm responses to CTA identified by HTI. As shown in FIG. 2A, IgG specific for SSX-2 were detectable by Western blot using sera from patient 24, a patient found by HTI to have IgG specific for SSX-2 (FIG. 2B). Conversely, no response was detectable using sera from patients 19 or 35 from whom no detectable HTI response to SSX-2 was detected, indicating that HTI screening provided data consistent with that by Western blot analysis.

Patients with melanoma have frequent antibody responses to SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, and MAD-CT-2: As shown in FIG. 3, IgG responses to SSX-2 and NY-ESO-1 were detected in 2/44 (5%, p=0.13) and 3/44 (7%, p=0.061) patients, respectively, compared with 0/50 male controls. In addition, IgG responses to MAD-CT-2 were identified in 12/44 (27%) of patients compared with 0/50 controls (p<0.001). IgG responses were also detected at lower frequencies to PAGE-1 and MAD-CT-1. Overall, IgG responses to at least one of the CTA were detected in 17/44 (39%) of male patients with melanoma, compared with 2/50 (4%) of controls (p<0.001) (FIG. 3 and Table 3). There was no apparent association with whether patients had been previously treated with immunotherapy, as 7/17 patients with antibody responses had been previously treated with immunotherapy (41%) compared with 12/27 patients who had no CTA-specific antibody responses (44%, p=0.83). IgG responses to MAD-CT-2 were detected in patients who did not demonstrate reactivity to SSX-2 or NY-ESO-1 (Table 3). This did not appear to be due to differences in patterns of gene expression, as mRNA encoding all three gene products were detectable in two different melanoma cell lines tested (FIG. 4). The identification of MAD-CT-2 transcripts in melanoma cell lines, however, demonstrates that it is a melanoma CTA.

TABLE 3 IgG responses to at least one CTA were detectable in multiple patients with melanoma. Shown are the patients with serum IgG specific for each CTA (shaded box) arrayed against the CTA tested.

Example 2 Antibody Responses to Cancer-Testis Antigens in Prostate Cancer Patients

Using techniques similar to those described in Example 1 above or an ELISA assay, the inventors have found that antibody responses occurred at a higher rate in prostate cancer patients than in control individuals for the following antigens: SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, NFX2, MAD-Pro-22, MAD-Pro-30, MAD-Pro-34, MAD-Pro-42, MAD-CaP-1, MAD-CaP-5, MAD-CaP-15, MAD-CaP-20, MAD-CT-1, MAD-CT-2, MAD-CT-3, MAD-CT-5, transgelin, ZCWCC3, ACAA1, AR (or ligand-binding domain of AR) and actinin. The results are summarized in Table 4 with the results obtained by either ELISA assays (labeled) or using the techniques described in Example 1. The ELISA assays were conducted using purified antigen proteins which were probed with sera from prostate cancer patients or normal individuals followed by detection of antigen-antibody interaction using enzyme-conjugated anti-human Ig antibody and the corresponding enzyme substrate.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the studies conducted with the techniques described in Example 1 in which SSX-2, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, and NFX2 were found to be expressed at a higher rate in prostate cancer patients than in control individuals.

Using RT-PCR and SSX-2 specific antibody, the inventors found that SSX-2 was expressed in at least three prostate cancer cell lines: LAPC4 (FIG. 6), MDAPCa2b (FIG. 6), and LNCap (data not shown). The inventors also found that SSX-2 was expressed in prostate cancer metastatic tissue samples (FIG. 7).

TABLE 4 Antigen-specific IgG Responses Patients with Control Male Antigen Prostate Cancer Blood Donors SSX-2 1/100 0/50 NY-ESO-1 3/100 0/50 MAD-Pro-22 16/100  9/64 (PSA) 22/200 by ELISA 3/100 by ELISA MAD-Pro-30 18/100  3/64 MAD-Pro-34 5/100 0/64 MAD-Pro-42 5/100 0/64 MAD-CaP-1 2/100 0/50 MAD-CaP-5 5/100 1/50 MAD-CaP-15 3/100 0/50 MAD-CaP-20 5/100 1/50 MAD-CT-1 5/109 1/52 MAD-CT-2 3/109 0/52 MAD-CT-3 2/109 0/52 MAD-CT-5 5/109 1/52 Transgelin 2/27  0/25 ZCWCC3 5/26  4/25 ACAA1 13/26  9/25 AR LBD 18/105 by ELISA 0/41 by ELISA Actinin 1/1 

Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to such specific embodiments but encompasses all such modifications and variations apparent to a skilled artisan that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further prostate cancer examination comprising the step of: determining whether the human subject has developed an immune reaction to a prostate cancer antigen selected from SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58), MAD-Pro-42 (SEQ ID NO: 61), transgelin encoded by SEQ ID NO: 62 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, ZCWCC3 (SEQ ID NO: 63), ACAA1 (SEQ ID NO: 64), actinin (SEQ ID NO: 65), and NFX2 (SEQ ID NO: 66) wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the human subject is a candidate for further prostate cancer examination.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antigen is selected from SSX-2 encoded by a nucleic acid comprising SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58), MAD-Pro-42 (SEQ ID NO: 61), transgelin (SEQ ID NO: 62), ZCWCC3 (SEQ ID NO: 63), and ACAA1 (SEQ ID NO: 64).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the antigen is MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58).
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein whether the human subject developed an immune reaction to antigens in an antigen panel is determined, and wherein the panel comprises MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58), SSX-2 encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, androgen receptor (AR) ligand binding domain (SEQ ID NO: 59), and MAD-Pro-22 (PSA) (SEQ ID NO: 57).
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the development of an immune reaction is determined by testing whether a blood sample from the human subject contains an antibody to an antigen.
 6. A method for determining whether an immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response in a prostate cancer patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing an immune therapy to a prostate cancer patient; and determining whether the patient developed an immune reaction to a prostate cancer antigen selected from SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58), MAD-Pro-42 (SEQ ID NO: 61), transgelin encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 62 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, ZCWCC3(SEQ ID NO: 63), ACAA1 (SEQ ID NO: 64), actinin (SEQ ID NO: 65), and NFX2 (SEQ NO: 66), wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the antigen is selected from SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58), MAD-Pro-42 (SEQ ID NO: 61), transgelin encoded by SEQ ID NO: 62 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, ZCWCC3 (SEQ ID NO: 63), and ACAA1 (SEQ ID NO: 64).
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the antigen is MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58).
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein whether the prostate cancer patient developed an immune reaction to antigens in an antigen panel is determined, and wherein the panel comprises MAD-Pro-30 (SEQ ID NO: 58), SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, androgen receptor (AR) ligand binding domain (SEQ ID NO: 59), and MAD-Pro-22 (PSA) (SEQ ID NO: 57).
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the immune therapy is a non-antigen-specific immune therapy.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the development of an immune reaction is determined by testing whether a blood sample from the prostate cancer patient contains an antibody to an antigen.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A method for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further melanoma examination comprising the step of: determining whether the human subject has developed an immune reaction to a melanoma antigen selected from MAD-CT-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 67 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, MAD-CT-1 (SEQ ID NO: 68), and PAGE-1 (SEQ ID NO: 69), wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the human subject is a candidate for further melanoma examination.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the antigen is MAD-CT-2.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein whether the human subject developed an immune reaction to antigens in an antigen panel is determined, and wherein the panel comprises MAD-CT-1 (SEQ ID NO: 68), PAGE-1 (SEQ ID NO: 69), SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, and NY-ESO-1 (SEQ ID NO: 70).
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the development of an immune reaction is determined by testing whether a blood sample from the human subject contains an antibody to an antigen.
 17. A method for determining whether an immune therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response in a melanoma patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing an immune therapy to a melanoma patient; and determining whether the patient developed an immune reaction to a melanoma antigen selected from MAD-CT-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 67 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, MAD-CT-1 (SEQ ID NO: 68), and PAGE-1 (SEQ ID NO: 69), wherein the presence of an immune reaction indicates that the therapy has elicited a tumor-specific immune response.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the antigen is MAD-CT-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 67 or a conservatively modified variant thereof.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein whether the melanoma patient developed an immune reaction to antigens in an antigen panel is determined, and wherein the panel comprises MAD-CT-1 (SEQ ID NO: 68), PAGE-1 (SEQ ID NO: 69), SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, and NY-ESO-1 (SEQ ID NO: 70).
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the immune therapy is a non-antigen-specific immune therapy.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the development of an immune reaction is determined by testing whether a blood sample from the melanoma patient contains an antibody to an antigen.
 22. A method for identifying a human subject as a candidate for further melanoma examination comprising the step of: determining whether the cells in a region of the subject's skin suspected of being malignant express MAD-CT-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 67 or a conservatively modified variant thereof, wherein the expression of MAD-CT-2 indicates that the subject is a candidate for further melanoma examination.
 23. A method for identifying candidate compounds for further testing as preventive or therapeutic agents for melanoma, the method comprising the steps of: providing cells that express MAD-CT-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 67 or a conservatively modified variant thereof; exposing the cells to a test compound; determining the expression of level of MAD-CT-2 in the exposed cells; and comparing the expression level in the exposed cells to that of corresponding control cells that are not exposed to the test compound, wherein a lower expression level than that in the control cells indicates that the compound is a candidate for further testing as a preventive or therapeutic agent for melanoma.
 24. A kit comprising: a first polypeptide that comprises MAD-CT-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 67 or a conservatively modified variant thereof; a second polypeptide that comprises SSX-2 encoded by SEQ ID NO: 60 or a conservatively modified variant thereof; and a third polypeptide that comprises NY-ESO-1 (SEQ ID NO: 70). 